Automatic sequence camera and system

ABSTRACT

A remote controlled, sequence camera system for security purposes in banks and similar institutions, each camera featuring a self-contained power supply using a rechargeable battery, an extreme wide-angle lens with fixed focus and great depth of field, and a unique film drive system and circuitry incorporating unperforated roll film. One or more such cameras are connected into a single &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;digital readout panel&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; employing film counters, camera test circuits and a relay circuit which activates all cameras. The relay circuit may be connected into standard bank alarm systems and be activated in turn from one or more remote locations. Once activated, each camera continues to operate until shut off or until its film supply is exhausted. A trickle charger connected into the readout panel maintains the battery in each camera.

United States Patent [72] Inventor JamesJ. Newman Salem,0reg. [211 App].No. 734,274 [22] Filed June4,1968 [45] Patented Feb. 16, 1971 [73]Assignee LeFebure Corporation Cedar p d 191's. By mesne assignments [54]AUTOMATIC SEQUENCE CAMERA AND SYSTEM 14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs. [52]U.S.Cl 95/31 [51] Int.Cl ..G03b 19/04 [50] FieldofSearch 352/121; 95/31,31 (elec.), ll

[56] RefercncesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,520,296 8/1950 Williams352/l2l(X) 3,098,418 7/1963 Reiher 95/31 3,135,181 6/1964 Gevatter.....95/31(X) 3,135,182 6/1964 Hintze..... 95/31 3,385,189 5/1968 Hennig....95/31(UX) 3,451,322 6/1969 Noda 95/31 3,470,803 10/1969 Fukuoka 95/31FOREIGN PATENTS 5/1963 Great Britain OTHER REFERENCES PrimaryExaminer-John M. Horan Assistant'Examiner- Russell E. Adams, Jr.Anomeys-HavenE. Simmons and James C. Nemmers ABSTRACT: A remotecontrolled, sequence camera system for security purposes in banks andsimilar institutions, each camera featuring a self-contained powersupply using a rechargeable battery, an extreme wide-angle lens withfixed focus and great depth of field, and a unique film drive system andcircuitry incorporating unperforated roll film. One or more such camerasare connected into a single digital readout panel" employing filmcounters, camera test circuits and a relay circuit which activates allcameras. The relay circuit may be connected into standard bank alarmsystems and be activated in turn from one or more remote locations. Onceactivated, each camera continues to operate until shut 011' or until itsfilm supply is exhausted. A trickle charger connected into the readoutpanel maintains the battery in each camera.

CAMERA 2 PATENTEU FEB 1 s |97| SHEET 1 OF 5 INVEN'IOR.

JAMES J. NEWMAN is) a ATTORNEY PATENTEDFEBIBIQYI 4 3.563.148

sum 2 BF 5 v INVIEN'IOR. JAMES J NEWMAN w fawn AT TORNE Y PATENIED ma 6I97! SHEET 3 [IF 5 Mai a INVIiN'IOR.

JAMES J. NEWMAN BY 4 7 AT TORNE Y PATENTEU ,FEB 1 6 Ian SHEET t [If 5INVIQN'IOR. JAMES J. NEWMAN A T TORNE Y VPATEINTEU FEB 1 a 19m SHEET ,50F 5 FIG 7 TL-l FIG 8 IN VIiN 0R. JAMES J. NEWMAN ATTORNEY AUTOMATICSEQUENCE CAMERA AND SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Current sequencecameras are deficient in a number of respects insofar as bank securitypurposes and the like are concerned. For example, means separate fromthe camera are often used or required in order to impart sequenceoperation, rather than being incorporated in the camera itself. Aselfcontained power supply is not employed for each camera, as a resultof which failure or disablement of the banks regular power will alsodisable all the cameras. The size of picture taken by each camera isrelatively small because an extreme wide angle lens is not used; thedepth of filed also tends to be relatively restricted. All such camerastypically utilize regular l v. line power which requires conduitinstallation between the cameras and their control centers. Typically,too, an acetate base, perforated film, either 16 or 35 millimeter, isused which after sitting idle while wound on the film drive mechanism,tends to take on a set..As a result, when a camera is activated, thefilm is apt to ride up and off the drive sprockets, causing the lattersometimes to tear out the drive perforations in the film. All theseobjections and deficiencies are overcome in the cameras and camerasystem of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One or more sequence operated cameras areconnected into a system by which all cameras may be operated fromseveral remote locations for bank security and like purposes. Eachcamera employs a 100 foot roll of 70 millimeter wide, polyester basefilm, unperforated for drive purposes, and an extremely wide-angle,fixed focus lens, the lens coverage being 107 instead of the typical 56of many other wide-angle lenses. A relatively large contact print canthus be made from each exposure. The film passes the lens horizontallyso that a wide lateral field is encompassed owing to the wide-anglelens; hence lateral aim of the camera is not critical. The film is muchthinner than acetate-based film so that a 100 foot roll requires lessspace. Nor does the polyester base film tend to take a set after longperiods of idleness on the film rollers. Each camera basically comprisestwo portions. The first is a camera box incorporating the lens and amotor-driven shutter operating mechanism, which both trips and resetsthe shutter, together with a rechargeable 6v. battery. The latterpermits the camera to be operated from its own power source rather thanbe dependent upon some outside power source. The second portion, whichis removably attached to the first, is a film magazine incorporating afilm drive motor, idler rollers and other mechanism. No drive sprocketsare used or required. The film drive motor itself is concentric with thefilm takeup roll which in turn also incorporates a reduction gear box.Both camera portions incorporate various electrical controls, includingseveral cam-operated microswitches, by which both motors are suitablyactivated in order to provide sequence operation of the camera as awhole. Two such switches are activated by the shutter mechanism andcontrol operation of the shutter motor and initial operation of the filmdrive motor. Another pair of such switches controls the remainder of theoperation of the film drive motor. The latter pair of switches in turnis controlled by one of the film idler rollers and together therewithmeters the film required for each exposure, then terminates operation ofthe film drive motor and finally dynamically brakes the latter byestablishing a short through its windings. Approximately, 235 exposuresare possible from each 100 foot roll of film, each roughly 2 /zX 5inches.

Each camera is attached by its own electrical cable into a singledigital readout panel" which includes, for each camera, a test button bywhich operation of that camera can be checked from time to time, and afilm counter and counter light therefor. In addition, the panel carriesan alarm relay which when closed activates all the cameras and which iscontrolled from one or more remote locations, such as a bank teller'sinstallation, or is otherwise connected into the bank's regular alarmsystem. A trickle charger connected into the readout panel maintains afull charge on the battery in each camera through the cables attachingthe same to the panel. These cables also permit the camera batteries toprovide the power necessary in order to operate the various functions ofthe readout panel including the alarm relay. Hence, not only is eachcamera independent of any outside power source but so also is thereadout panel, especially the alarm relay. Once the alarm relay isclosed, all cameras continue to operate regardless until deactivatedfrom the readout panel or until their film supply is exhausted, in thelatter case a microswitch riding on the film breaking the circuit to thetwo motors in each camera.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of camerasaccording to the invention together with a schematic showing of theirconnections into the digital readout and trickle charger.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, isometric view of a camera according tothe present invention separated into its two principal assemblies and dshowing the mode by which the two are joined.

FIG. 3 is an upper isometric view of a camera according to the presentinvention with certain parts omitted and various portions broken awayshowing the principal mechanical details of the camera.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a' camera according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view of the camera of FIG. 4 with the filmmagazine cover plate removed and showing the passage of the film throughthe camera.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry of each cameraaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry of the digitalreadout panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry of the tricklecharger employed to maintain the batteries in each camera.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT a. The Camera As mentioned, thecamera proper comprises two portions, a camera body assembly and a filmmagazine assembly. The camera body assembly, generally designated at 10,includes a generally rectangular housing 11, which may be a suitablealloy casting, having an open rear face surrounded by integral innerflanges 12-and a front wall 13 in which is centrally mounted a fixedfocus, extreme wide-angle lens 14. The lens used in the particularcamera illustrated is a commercially available item of German origin, aSchneider-Kreuznach,

, Super-Angulon, 128/65, comprising front and rear lens assemblies 14aand 14b between which is sandwiched a suitable leaf shutter assembly 15having stops f28 to f:32, speeds up to 1/1 25th of a second, and ashutter trip lever 16 extending from its periphery. A the f:8 setting,which is suitable for most installations, the depth of field of theforegoing lens is from 8 to 300 feet and its field is 107. Adjacent onelower corner of the housing front wall 13 is disposed a pitman 17 fixedon a stub shaft 18 journaled in the front wall 13 and extending withinthe housing 11, its inner end having fixed thereto a cam 19 (to be laterfurther described) and a face gear 20. A pitman arm 21 is pivotallyattached to the exposed end of trip lever 16 and to the pitman 17, thepitman arm 21 being in the form of an extensible only helical spring.Rotation of pitman 17 will thereby move trip lever 16 in one directionto trip the shutter assembly 15 and then in the other direction to resetthe same. Along the inner face of the front wall 13, below lens 14, ishorizontally disposed a shutter motor SM incorporating a reductiongearbox (not shown) on a suitable bracket assembly 22 in which the innerend of shaft 18 is also journaled, the output shaft of the gearbox of SMcarrying a small pinion gear 23 engaging the larger face gear 20. Thespeed of the output shaft of SM is about 4 revolutions per second, andSM itself is a small 6v. motor having a permanent magnet field and awound armature. A suitable such motor is a model Mini-Richard,obtainable from Max Luder of Gem'mrighein, West Germany, and has atorque output of 480 c.m.p. Also supported by the bracket assembly 22 isa pair of s.p.d.t. microswitches CS1 and CS-Z mounted side by side suchthat their switch-operating arms 24a and 24b, respectively, ride on theperiphery of cam 19. The latter is provided with a flat 25a thereon uponwhich both arms 24a and 24b ride, the portion of the flat 25:: uponwhich arm 2411 only rides having an additional, angularly disposed flat23b adjoined thereto. When the switch arms 24a and 24b of CS-ll andCS-Zl are on the flat 25a, each is in the NC position shown in FlG. 6. A6v., rechargeable, cadmiumnickel battery B is secured to the inner faceof the front wall 13 above lens 14 by a suitable spring bracket 27, anda 7 lead electrical cable 23, connected into the electrical componentsof the camera body assembly in the manner hereinafter described, extendsthrough a sidewallof housing 11 to a combined female pin socket CP-1 andterminal board CT-1 having 8 pairs of terminals.

The film magazine assembly, generally designated at 30, also consists ofa generally rectangular housing 31, which may also be an alloy castingbut which is wider and shallower than the camera body assembly 11,having open top and front faces. A hollow boss 32 is cast integrallyinto the floor 33 of housing 31 somewhat toward a rear corner thereofand projects downwardly therefrom. A film drive motor FM is secured byseveral set screws within a mounting sleeve 34 also cast integrally inthe floor 33 and projecting above the latter. Film drive motor FM is a12v. unit, also having a permanent magnet field and a wound armature butoperated at 6 vs. A suitable such motor is obtainable from Howard MotorGroup, MSL lndustries, Inc. Fort Lauderdale, Florida Model No. 1490M2.The upper end of FM incorporates a 20 to 1 ratio reduction gear box (notshown) within a hollow sleeve 35 which is closed by an end plate 36 inwhich is journaled the output shaft 37 of the gear box, the speed ofshaft 37 being approximately one revolution per second. The exposed endof shaft 37 is provided with a pair of parallel flats in order to form adriving dog 38. The latter is received in a complimentary slot in thetop wall of a film drive sleeve 39 which removably slips over the gearbox sleeve 35 and end plate 36 and is closely concentric at its lowerend with the outer surface of the motor-mounting sleeve 34. Thus,rotation of shaft 37 by film drive motor FM will rotate the film drivesleeve 39. Adjacent the diagonally opposite corner of floor 33 is fixedan upright stub axle 41), and a floor plate 41 is suitably fixed inspaced relation to the floor 33 of housing 31 on stools 42, beingappropriately apertured at 43 and 44 in order to receive mounting sleeve34 and axle 46, respectively, therethrough, the aperture 44 for thelatter being substantially enlarged for purposes to be described. To thefloor plate 41 in turn is fixed a pair of upright stub axles and 46 sothat the film drive sleeve 39 and the stub axles 411, 45 and 46 togetherform the corners of a trapezoid with respect to the floor plate 41, thelong side of the trapezoid being adjacent the open front face of thehousing 31.

Stub axle 40 has suitably journaled thereon a filmmetering roller 47having an elastomeric frictional surface 48 and at its lower axial end acam 49 extending through the aperture 44 to below the floor plate 41.Upon the cam 49 rides the switch arm 50 of a pair of ganged, d.p.d.t.microswitches, collectively identified as CS-3 and mounted beneath floorplate 41 in a suitable manner, the periphery of cam 49 being providedwith a flat 49a thereon which operates CS-3 upon rotation of meteringroller 47. When switch arm 30 of CS-3 is on the flat 49a, CS-3 is in theposition shown in FIG. 6. A film idler roller 51 is suitably journaledon the stub axle 45 and has its periphery at its lower end provided witha groove 52 in which rides the switch operating arm 53 of a s.p.d.t.microswitch CS-4 such that when arm 53 is so riding in grooves 52, (IS-4is in its NC position (see H6. 6). The electrical components of the filmmagazine assembly 30 are connected, as hereinafter described, into a 7lead cable 54 passing through a sidewall of housing 31 and terminatingin a male pin plug CP-Z connectable into the female plug CP-l of thecamera body assembly 10.

An L-shaped bracket 55 is fixed to floor plate 41 and has an uprightportion carrying a spongelike film wiper 56 which bears against thesurface 48 of film-metering roller 47. Across the forward edge of thefloor plate 41, just inboard of the open front face of housing 31, isscrewed an upright film back plate 57 by means of alower flange 58thereon, the plate 57 being somewhat larger than the area of each filmexposure. To the forward open face of housing 31 is screwed a film plate60 having a central rectangular aperture 61 the size of each filmexposure. Plate 60 is generally coterrninous at its ends with the frontface of housing 31 but overhangs the upper and lower edges of thelatter. The upper and lower margins of the aperture 61 as well as oneend margin thereof are provided with forwardly facing rabbets 62therein, the other end of plate 60 being recessed at 63 from its outeredge through to its adjacent end margin of aperture 61 to merge with theupper and lower rabbets 62, all in order to provide ways which slidablyreceive a removable dark slide 64 insertable from the latter edge ofplate 60 for closing the aperture 61 therein, the slide 64 having aforward flange 65 on its outer end in order to enable it to be insertedand removed. The dark slide 64 is secured by a retainer plate 66 havingan aperture therein congruent with aperture 61 and secured to the frontface of plate 60. Retainer plate 66 is stopped short of the end of plate60 remote from that in which dark slide 64 is inserted in order toprovide a shoulder 67 which abuts the inner edge of a vertical groove 68cut in the outer face of the film plate 60. A portion 69 of the outerend of retainer plate 66 forward of the recess 63 is cut away in orderto receive the flange 65 of dark slide 64.

The inner flanges 12 of the rear open face of camera housing 11 areformed to provide a rear facing, rectangularly framed flat seat 70 ofthe same height as film plate 60 and inset from the rear face of housing11, the rear edge of one sidewall of the latter also being cut down at71 to merge with the seat 70, all in order to allow film magazineassembly 30 to be placed in position on the rear of camera housing 11.In that position the forward face of retainer plate 66 engages the seat70 with the shoulder 67 of plate 66 abutting a shallow outer wall 72formed at the rear edge of the other sidewall of hous ing 11 andreceived in the groove 68 of film plate 60 such that the aperture 61 issymmetrically disposed with respect to the axis of lens 14. The rearedges of thetop and bottom walls of housing 11 are inwardly beveled at73 and fitted with slidable lock bars 74, each having a pair of parallelslots 75 therein spaced along its outer edge and canted with respectthereto. The slots 75 receive headed screws and spring washers 76threaded into the beveled faces 73. The inner edge of each lock bar 74,opposite the slots 75, is provided with a pair of locking lips 77 whichmove inwardly from the faces 73, owing to the canted slots 75, andtightly engage the upper and lower overhanging portions of the rear faceof film plate 60 when lock bars 74 are slid longitudinally along thebeveled faces 73. The film magazine assembly 30 is thus removably lockedin position to the rear face of the camera assembly 10.

The open top of film magazine housing 31 is closed by a removable coverplate 78, its front edge fitting into a horizontal groove 79 in the rearface of film plate 60 and its remaining edges being flanged in order tofit over the side and rear walls of housing 31. Cover plate 78 issecured by a thumbscrew and knob 80 threaded into a boss 81 cast on theinner face of the rear wall of housing 31, thereby permitting access tothe interior of housing 31 for inspection and for loading and unloadingof film. As mentioned, the latter is a thin polyester base film and iswound on a spool 82 that rotates on stub axle 46. Each roll of film isfeet in length and 70 millimeters wide,

a suitable type being that sold under the trademark KODAK ESTAR, and is.004 inches thick. The film passage is indicated in FIG. 5. As isapparent, of course, since lens 14 has a fixed focus, the depth ofcamera housing 11 must be such that the distance between the rear lensassembly 14b and the film against the film back plate 57 is correct forthe depth of field employed. This distance can be calculated or can bereadily determined by trial and error by those skilled in the art.

b. The Digital Readout Panel, the Trickle Charger and the ElectricalInterconnections of the Camera System The control or digital readoutpanel is shown in FIG. 1 connected into a pair of cameras 1 and 2 and atrickle battery charger. The two cameras are identical and commonreference numerals are used for both, except that the terminal board ofcamera 2 is designated CTZ. The digital readout panel includes arectangular housing 100 with a sloped front panel 101 which mounts filmcounters C-1 and C-2 for cameras 1 and 2, respectively, above which arecounter lamps DL-l and DL-2. The top of housing 100 above DL-l and DL-2carries a pair of normally open s.p.s.t. push button test switches DS-]and DS-2 for cameras 1 and 2 between which is a s.p.s.t. key switchDS-3. On panel 101 below DS-3 is a normally closed s.p.s.t. push buttonalarm reset switch DS-4 and below that an alarm lamp DL-3. Within thehousing 100 is a suitable t.p.d.t. alarm relay R-1 (see FIG. 7).

The trickle charger is also enclosed in a similar housing 102 whosesloping front panel 103 carries at one side a fuse assembly F-] and ans.p.s.t. power line switch TS-l, and on the other side, an indicatorlamp TL-l. In the middle of panel 103 is a milliammeter MA, and one endof housing 102 mounts a female, 2-lead plug TP-l. Within housing 102(see FIG. 8) are a suitable l lOv. line transformer T4, which reducesline voltage to 6vs., two pairs of half-wave diode rectifiers, D-1 andD-2, D-3 and D-4, and two %-watt resistors R-l and R-2 of 470 and 10,000ohms, respectively.

The trickle charger is connected to the digital readout panel by meansof a 2-lead cable 110 from the latter having a male plug DP-l engagingthe plug TP-l of the trickle charger. The latter is connected into asuitable 110v. power source by a 2- lead cable 111 and a male plug TP-2.Cameras 1 and 2, in turn, are connected into the digital readout panelby means of two 5-lead cables 112a and 112b, while a 2-lead cable 113connects the digital readout panel into the banks alarm system andserves to activate both cameras in the manner hereinafter described.

c. The Internal Electrical Circuitry and Operation of the SequenceCamera System As mentioned, FIG. 1 illustrates a Z-camera system. Thecircuitry of each camera, the control or digital readout panel and thetrickle charger are schematically shown in FIGS. 6-8, together withtheir interconnections as indicated in FIG. 1. FIGS. 6 and 7 show eachcamera and the digital readout panel in their unactivated status, butreadyfor operation, which in the case of each camera means that theswitch arms 24a and 24b of CS-l and CS4 are both on the flat 25a of cam19, CP-l is connected to CP-2, the switch arm 50 of CS3 is on the flat49a of cam 49, and the film magazine assembly is loaded with film in themanner indicated in FIG. 5 so that the switch arm 53 of CS-4 is ridingthereon as the film passes around the idler roller 51, whereupon CS4 isin the NO position illustrated in FIG. 6. In the case of the digitalreadout panel, the relay R-l is in its inactive position shown in FIG.7, and the key switch DS-3 and the alarm reset switch DS-4 are bothclosed. When the remote alarm is activated, the following sequenceensues:

Terminals 7 and 8 of DT-2 are thereby connected through cable 113. As aresult, power is supplied to activate relay R-l as follows: from thepositive side of each battery B to terminals 1 of each CT1, thencethrough cables 112a and l12b to terminals 1 of DT-l and DT-2, thenthrough DS4 to terminal 10 of R-1; and from the negative side of eachbattery B to terminal 2 of each CT1, then through cables 112a and 112bto terminals 2 of DT-l and DT-2, then from terminal 2 to terminal 7 ofDT-2, then through cable 113 and the remote alarm to terminal 8 of DT-2,and finally from the latter through 08-3 to terminal 2 of R-l. Closingof R1 activates a hold circuit therefor by connecting terminals 1, 2 and3 of R-l so that closure of the remote alarm is no longer needed forsubsequent operation of the camera system. At the same time,

the alarm relay light DL-3 is lighted owing to the fact, as will beobserved from FIG. 7, that it is connected between terminals 2 and 10 ofrelay Rl. Closing of R-l also connects terminals 6 and 7, 9 and 11thereof, the first pair activating camera 1 and the second pair camera2. Since the operation of both cameras is identical, only that of camera1 will not be described.

Connecting terminals 6 and 7 of R-l first activates shutter motor SM asfollows: from the positive side of battery B to terminal 1 of CT1, thento terminals 1 of CP-l and CP2, from the latter through'CS-4 toterminals 6 of CP-l and CP-2, an thence to the positive side of SM; andfrom the negative side of battery B to terminals 2 of CP-l and PC-2,from the latter through contacts 3 and 4 of CS-3 to terminals 4 of CP-land PC-2, thence from the latter to terminal 5 of CT1, through cable112a to terminal 5 of DT-l, from the latter through terminals 6 and 7 ofR-l to terminal of DT-l, through cable 112a to terminal 4 of CT1, andthence to the negative side of SM.

Rotation of cam 19 by SM causes CS-l to move from its NC to its NOposition, in order to establish a hold circuit for the negative side ofSM for purposes to be later described, and thereafter causes CS-2 alsoto move from its NC to its NO position. Between activation of CS-l andthat of CS-2, the rotation of cam 19 is sufficient to trip the shutter15 through its lever 16 and the pitman 17 and pitman arm 21, furtherrotation of pitman 17 after CS-2 is activated serving to reset theshutter 15. Activation of CS-2 starts FM, as follows: from the positiveside of battery B to terminal 1 of CT1, thence through terminals 1 ofCP-l and CP-Z and CS4 to the positive side of FM; and from the negativeside of battery B through the NO position of CS-Z to terminal 6 of CT1,and finally through terminals 5 of CP-l and CP-2 to the negative side ofFM. The film thereby caused to wind onto film drive sleeve 39 in turncauses rotation of film metering roller 47 and hence cam 49 until CS-3is activated. The latter has several results, as follows: closing of thecontacts 1 and 2 of CS-3 activates the film counter C-1 and counterlight DL-l through a circuitestablished from the positive side ofbattery B to terminal l of CT1, thence through terminals 1 of CP-l andCP-Z, then through CS4 and contacts 1 and 2 of CS-3 to terminals 3 ofCP-l and CP-2, then to terminal 3 of CT1, then through cable 112a toterminal 3 of DT-l and finally to C-1 and DL-l which, it will beobserved, are in parallel with each other; and from the negative side ofbattery B to terminal 2 of CT1, then through cable 112a to terminal 2 ofDT-l, and finally therefrom to the other sides of C1 and DL1. Opening ofthe contacts 3 and 4 of CS-3 opens the original circuit, describedabove, to the negative side of SM, but SM remains activated owing to theaforementioned hold circuit therefor established through the NO positionCS-l directly from the negative side of battery B to the negative sideof SM. Closing of contacts 5 and 6 of CS-3 forms a holding circuit forthe negative side of FM for purposes to be described, and opening ofcontact 7 and 8 of CS-3 delays operation of a dynamic brake circuit forFM, which, as later described, is formed together with the NC positionof CS-2.

Thereafter, both SM and FM continue to operate until SM has completedone revolution, during which shutter 25 has been tripped and then resetby pitman l7, and switch arms 24a and 24b of CS-l and CS-2 again arriveon the flat 25a of cam 19, returning both switches to their NCpositions. SM is thus deactivated since the holding circuit thereforthrough the NO position of CS-l is broken and the original circuitthrough contacts 3 and 4 of CS-3 is still open. FM, however, continuesto operate until metering roller 47 has made one revolution and switcharm 50 of CS-3 again arrives on the flat 49a of cam 49. The duration ofoperation of FM depends, therefore, on the diameter of metering roller47, and this, in turn, must be such that in one revolution an amount offilm has been moved across aperture 61 sufficient for the next exposure.When switch arm 50 of CS3 reaches the flat 49a of cam 49, CS-3 is thusreturned to its original position with the following consequences: thecounter circuit to C4 and DL-l is broken by the openings of contacts 1and 2 of CS-3; the original circuit from the negative side of battery Bto the negative side of SM through contacts 3 and 4 of CS-3 isreestablished; the hold circuit for FM through contacts 5 and 6 of CS-3is broken, thus deactivating FM since CS-2 is now in its original NCposition, and a dynamic brake circuit to PM is established. The latterimposes a short across the windings of FM as follows: from thepositiveside of FM through contacts'7 and 8 of CS-3 to terminals 7 ofCP-l and CP-Z, thence through terminal 8 of CT-l and the NC position ofCS-2 to terminal 6 of CT-l, and finally therefrom through terminals 5 ofCP-l and CP-Z to the negative side of FM. The latter is thus braked toan instant halt so that it will not carry an unnecessary amount of filmpast the aperture 61 nor will the film be in motion when SM isactivatecl to begin the next sequence. This is important because SM isactivated to begin the next sequence by tripping the shutter the momentcontacts 3 and 4 of CS-3 are reclosed, thus reestablishing the originalcircuit to the negative side of SM through terminals 6 and 7 of R-lwhich continues activated owing to the hold circuit therefor throughterminals 1 and 3 of R-l, all as described above. As will be observed,camera 2 will operate in exactly the same manner through CT-Z, cable112k and DT-2 owing to the connection of terminals 9 and 11 of R-l, aswill C-2 and DL-2.

Both cameras, therefore, continueto operate until the film of each isexhausted. When that occurs, the switch arm 53 of CS4 in each camera,after the tail of the film has left idler roller 51, will drop into itsgroove 52, thus moving CS-4 in each camera to its NC position. Openingof the latter will permanently open the circuit from the positive sideof each battery B to the positive side of each pair of motors SM and FM,inasmuch as it will be observed from FIG. 6 that operation of both isdependent upon CS-4 being in its NO position. However, Rl will continueactivated owing to its hold circuit through its terminals 1 and 3. If itis desired to stop the automatic sequence operation of both camerasbefore their film is exhausted, it is only necessary to momentarilydepress DS-4 which is in series with the positive side of the holdcircuit of R1 and thus will deactivate the same. Thereafter, the remotealarm must be activated in order again to begin automatic sequenceoperation. If it is desired to shut the system off entirely from theremote alarm, the key switch DS-3 may be opened which, it will be noted,is in series with the remote alarm circuit and thus will preventactivation ofR-l thereby. When the system is idle, or even when the keyswitch DS-3 is open, the operation of each camera can be periodicallychecked by momentarily depressing test switch DS-l or DS-Z, as the casemay be. Depressing DS-l, it will be observed from FIG. 7, connectsterminals 4 and 5 of DT-l and, through cable ll2a, the same terminals ofCT-l. Thus power is supplied from the negative side of battery B toterminals 2 of CP-l and CP-Z, thence through contacts 3 and 4 of CS-3 toterminals 4 of CP-l and CP-Z to terminals 5 of CT-l, thence through theconnection of that terminal to terminal 4 of CT1 to the negative side ofFM. This, it will be seen, has the same effect as the connection ofterminals 6 and 7 of Rl when activated. In other words, connectingterminals 4 and 5 of CT-l or CT-2 will operate either camera,independently of R14 1, so long as the connection remains and so long asthere is film in the camera so that CS-4 is in its NO position tomaintain the positive sides of the circuits to SM and FM. This isbecause sequence operation of both SM and FM is governed solely bymaking or breaking the various circuits to their negativefsideslMomentarily depressing DS-l will operate camera I through one cycle,taking one picture, the success (or failure) of its operation beingindicated by the operation (or not) of C-1 and DLr-l on the digitalreadout panel. Holding DS-l closed will cause the camera to continue tocycle until DS-l is released or the film is exhausted. It is worthnoting also that cutting of the remote alarm cable 113 will activateR-l, since it in effect connects terminals 7 and 8 of DT2 and causesboth cameras to operate.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the camera of the presentinvention may also be used apartfrom the overall system, that is,without the digital readout panel and the trickle charger, since itcontains its own sequence-operating mechanism and its own power supply.Sequence operation of the camera so used is achieved, as noted above,merely by connecting two of its terminals, e.g., terminals 4 and 5 ofCT-1 in FIG. 6. Similarly the digital readout panel is easily adaptablefor use with but a single camera. Simply omitting the portion thereofshown to the left of the line A-A in FIG. 7 will permit it to operate asingle camera, for example, camera 2 in FIG. 7, the terminals 6 and 7 ofR-l being then unused or a d.p.d.t. relay being employed instead.

The trickle charger is conventional in its wiring and no descriptionbeyond that given above and that disclosed in FIG. 8 is believednecessary. It will be observed that its charge is delivered throughcableto terminals 1 and 2 of DT-I and DT 2, owing to their interconnection inthe digital readout panel, and thence through cables 112a and ll2b toterminals 1 and 2 of CT-l and CT-2 to which the batteries B are directlyconnected. The trickle charger delivers a steady l to 2 milliamperes tothe batteries B which, owing to their type, cannot be overcharged.

Though the invention has been described in the terms of a particularembodiment, being the best mode known of carrying it out, and detaileddescriptive language has been used, it is not so limited. Instead, thefollowing claims are to be read as encompassing all adaptations andmodifications of the invention falling within the spirit and scopethereof.

Iclaim:

1. A sequence camera comprising: housing means including a photographiclens and shutter; a first electric motor operatively associated withsaid shutter effective upon activation to provide a plurality ofsuccessive activations of said shutter; film transport means including asecond electric motor adapted to receive a wound roll of photographicfilm and effective upon activation of said second motor to unwind thefilm and pass the unwound portion thereof in a path past said lens in aplurality of successive predetermined transport movements, said filmtransport means providing a predetermined interval of rest for theunwound film portion between successive ones of said transport movementsduring each of said shutter activations effective to record a pluralityof successive images upon the unwound film portion upon successiveactivations of said shutter during the respective successive intervalsof rest of said transport means; and sequential operating meansassociated with said electric motors and said transport means effectivewhen said camera is connected to a source of electrical energy to causea plurality of repeated sequential operations of said camera, each ofsaid sequential operations serially including activation of said firstmotor and said shutter during one of said film rest intervals,activation of said second motor to cause one of said transportmovements, deactivation of said first motor, and deactivation of saidsecond motor, said sequential operating means including first switchmeans in series with said first motor, said switch means being effectivein its circuit closed position to activate said first motor to begin andmaintain said sequential operation of said camera and in its circuitopen position to deactivate said first motor and halt said;sequentialoperation; second switch means operated by said first motor effective toactivate said second motor to begin one of said transport movementsafter said first motor has activated said shutter during one of saidrest intervals; third switch means operatively associated with saidsecond motor effective, when said first switch means is in its circuitclosed position, to deactivate said second motor and to activate saidfirst motor at the'end of said transport movement and the beginning ofthe successive one of said rest intervals; and brake means for brakingsaid second motor upon deactivation thereof.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing means comprises a camerahousing carrying'said lens and shutter and having said first motordisposed therein; and a film magazine housing removably attached to saidcamera housing, said film transport means being disposed in said filmmagazine housing, a portion of said sequential operating means beingdisposed within said camera housing and a portion thereof in said filmmagazine housing, and releasable connections between said portionswhereby said film magazine housing may be removed as a unit from saidcamera housing.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said film transport means includes acylindrical metering roller, 'one face of the unwound film portion beingengageable with the periphery of said roller to cause rotation thereofduring each of said transport movements, rotation of said meteringroller activating a portion of said sequential operating means effectiveto determine the duration of operation of said second motor.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said electrical energy source isdisposed within said camera housing and comprises a rechargeablebattery. 3

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said'film transport means includes afilm takeup roll, said roll comprising a rotatable sleeve driven by saidsecond motor, said sleeve enveloping said motor and being disposedcoaxially with the shaft thereof.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said second switch means includes: afirst pair of contacts in parallel with said first switch means and inseries with said source and first motor, said first pair of contactsbeing in circuit open position upon deactivation of said first motor andin circuit closed position after activation of said first motor; asecond pair of contacts in parallel with said second motor, said secondpair of contacts being in circuit closed position 'while said secondmotor is deactivated and in circuit open position while said first motoris activated after said shutter activation, said second pair of contactsconstituting a portion of said brake means; and a third pair of contactsin series with said source and second motor, said third pair of contactsbeing in circuit open position while said first motor is deactivated andin circuit closed position while said first motor is activated aftersaid shutter activation.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said third switch means includes: afirst pair of contacts in series with said source, said first switchmeans and said first motor, said first pair of contacts being in circuitclosed position while said second motor is deactivated and in circuitopen position while said second motor is activated; a second pair ofcontacts in parallel with said third pair of contacts of said secondswitch means and in series with said second motor, said second pair ofcontacts being in circuit open position while s aid second motor isdeactivated and in circuit closed position while said second motor isactivated; and a third pair of contacts in parallel with said secondmotor and in series with said second pair of contacts of said secondswitch means and constituting the remaining portion of said brake means,said third pair of contacts being in circuit closed position while saidsecond motor is deactivated and in circuit open position while saidsecond motor is activated after said shutter activation.

8. The device of claim 3 wherein said camera housing is provided withfront and rear walls, said lens being of the extreme wide-angle type andmounted upon said front wall with its axis extending therethrough andthrough said read wall thereof; wherein said film magazine housing isprovided with a front wall removably mounted to the rear wall of saidcamera housing, the axis of said lens also extending through the frontwall of said film magazine housing; and wherein a film plate is disposedbetween a portion of said film path and said lens, said film late havingan a rture therein symmetricall disposed abou and lying in a p anenormal to the axis of 5a: lens, said film path portion being disposed ina plane parallel to said aperture plane.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said film-metering roller is disposedadjacent one end of said'film plate aperture and a film idler roller isdisposed adjacent the other end of said film aperture, said idler rollerhaving a periphery engageable with one face of the unwound film portion,said film path portion lying between said metering and idler rollers,the direction of said film passage being from said metering to saididler roller.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein film switch means are disposed inseries with both said first and second motors and said source, said filmswitch means being located adjacent said idler roller effective to causethe unwound film portion when engaged with said roller to maintain saidswitch means in its circuit closed position and when disengaged withsaid roller to maintain said switch means in its circuit open positionand thereby deactivate both said first and second motors.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein said first switch means is disposedremote from said camera and includes relay means, said relay meanshaving an activating circuit in series with and powered by said sourceeffective when activated to maintain said first switch means in itsclosed'position.

12. The device of claim 11 including'a control housing containing saidrelay and fourth switch means remotely disposed from said camera andcontrol housings in series with said relay-activating circuit effectivein its closed position to activate said relay, said relay including apair of contacts in series with said activating circuit and in parallelwith said fourth switch means effective to maintain activation of saidrelay when said fourth switch means is in its open position.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said control housing includes: fifthswitch means in series with said relay-activating circuit and normallyin closed circuit position, said fifth switch means being effective inits circuit open position to deactivate said relay-activating circuitwhen said fourth switch means is in its open position and thereby haltsaid sequential operation of said camera; and sixth switch means inparallel with said first switch means and normally in open circuitposition, said sixth switch means being effective while in its circuitclose position to activate said first motor and said sequentialoperation of said camera.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein said control housing includes filmcounter and film counter lamp circuits in parallel with each other andin series with said source, said film counter and film counter lampcircuits including a fourth pair of contacts in said third switch meansin series with said source and said circuits, said pair of contactsbeing in circuit open position while said second motor is deactivatedand in circuit closed position while said second'motor is activated.

1. A sequence camera comprising: housing means including a photographiclens and shutter; a first electric motor operatively associated withsaid shutter effective upon activation to provide a plurality ofsuccessive activations of said shutter; film transport means including asecond electric motor adapted to receive a wound roll of photographicfilm and effective upon activation of said second motor to unwind thefilm and pass the unwound portion thereof in a path past said lens in aplurality of successive predetermined transport movements, said filmtransport means providing a predetermined interval of rest for theunwound film portion between successive ones of said transport movementsduring each of said shutter activations effective to record a pluralityof successive images upon the unwound film portion upon successiveactivations of said shutter during the respective successive intervalsof rest of said transport means; and sequential operating meansassociated with said electric motors and said transport means effectivewhen said camera is connected to a source of electrical energy to causea plurality of repeated sequential operations of said camera, each ofsaid sequential operations serially including activation of said firstmotor and said shutter during one of said film rest intervals,activation of said second motor to cause one of said transportmovements, deactivation of said first motor, and deactivation of saidsecond motor, said sequential operating means including first switchmeans in series with said first motor, said switch means being effectivein its circuit closed position to activate said first motor to begin andmaintain said sequential operation of said camera and in its circuitopen position to deactivate said first motor and halt said sequentialoperation; second switch means operated by said first motor effective toactivate said second motor to begin one of said transport movementsafter said first motor has activated said shutter during one of saidrest intervals; third switch means operatively associated with saidsecond motor effective, when said first switch means is in its circuitclosed position, to deactivate said second motor and to activate saidfirst motor at the end of said transport movement and the beginning ofthe successive one of said rest intervals; and brake means for brakingsaid second motor upon deactivation thereof.
 2. The device of claim 1wherein said housing means comprises a camera housing carrying said lensand shutter and having said first motor disposed therein; and a filmmagazine housing removably attached to said camera housing, said filmtransport means being disposed in said film magazine housing, a portionof said sequential operating means being disposed within said camerahousing and a portion thereof in said film magazine housing, andreleasable connections between said portions whereby said film magazinehousing may be removed as a unit from said camera housing.
 3. The deviceof claim 2 wherein said film transport means includes a cylindricalmetering roller, one face of the unwound film portion being engageablewith the periphery of said roller to cause rotation thereof during eachof said transport movements, rotation of said metering roller activatinga portion of said sequential operating means effective to determine theduration of operation of said second motor.
 4. The device of claim 3wherein said electrical energy source is disposed within said camerahousing and comprises a rechargeable battery.
 5. The device of claim 3wherein said film transport means includes a film takeup roll, said rollcomprising a rotatable sleeve driven by said second motor, said sleeveenveloping said motor and being disposed coaxially with the shaftthereof.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said second switch meansincludes: a first pair of contacts in parallel with said first switchmeans and in series with said source and first motor, said first pair ofcontacts being in circuit open position upon deactivation of said firstmotor and in circuit closed position after activation of said firstmotor; a second pair of contacts in parallel with said second motor,said second pair of contacts being in circuit closed position while saidsecond motor is deactivated and in circuit open position while saidfirst motor is activated after said shutter activation, said second pairof contacts constituting a portion of said brake means; and a third pairof contacts in series with said source and second motor, said third pairof contacts being in circuit open position while said first motor isdeactivated and in circuit closed position while said first motor isactivated after said shutter activation.
 7. The device of claim 6wherein said third switch means includes: a first pair of contacts inseries with said source, said first switch means and said first motor,said first pair of contacts being in ciRcuit closed position while saidsecond motor is deactivated and in circuit open position while saidsecond motor is activated; a second pair of contacts in parallel withsaid third pair of contacts of said second switch means and in serieswith said second motor, said second pair of contacts being in circuitopen position while s aid second motor is deactivated and in circuitclosed position while said second motor is activated; and a third pairof contacts in parallel with said second motor and in series with saidsecond pair of contacts of said second switch means and constituting theremaining portion of said brake means, said third pair of contacts beingin circuit closed position while said second motor is deactivated and incircuit open position while said second motor is activated after saidshutter activation.
 8. The device of claim 3 wherein said camera housingis provided with front and rear walls, said lens being of the extremewide-angle type and mounted upon said front wall with its axis extendingtherethrough and through said read wall thereof; wherein said filmmagazine housing is provided with a front wall removably mounted to therear wall of said camera housing, the axis of said lens also extendingthrough the front wall of said film magazine housing; and wherein a filmplate is disposed between a portion of said film path and said lens,said film plate having an aperture therein symmetrically disposed aboutand lying in a plane normal to the axis of said lens, said film pathportion being disposed in a plane parallel to said aperture plane. 9.The device of claim 8 wherein said film-metering roller is disposedadjacent one end of said film plate aperture and a film idler roller isdisposed adjacent the other end of said film aperture, said idler rollerhaving a periphery engageable with one face of the unwound film portion,said film path portion lying between said metering and idler rollers,the direction of said film passage being from said metering to saididler roller.
 10. The device of claim 9 wherein film switch means aredisposed in series with both said first and second motors and saidsource, said film switch means being located adjacent said idler rollereffective to cause the unwound film portion when engaged with saidroller to maintain said switch means in its circuit closed position andwhen disengaged with said roller to maintain said switch means in itscircuit open position and thereby deactivate both said first and secondmotors.
 11. The device of claim 7 wherein said first switch means isdisposed remote from said camera and includes relay means, said relaymeans having an activating circuit in series with and powered by saidsource effective when activated to maintain said first switch means inits closed position.
 12. The device of claim 11 including a controlhousing containing said relay and fourth switch means remotely disposedfrom said camera and control housings in series with saidrelay-activating circuit effective in its closed position to activatesaid relay, said relay including a pair of contacts in series with saidactivating circuit and in parallel with said fourth switch meanseffective to maintain activation of said relay when said fourth switchmeans is in its open position.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein saidcontrol housing includes: fifth switch means in series with saidrelay-activating circuit and normally in closed circuit position, saidfifth switch means being effective in its circuit open position todeactivate said relay-activating circuit when said fourth switch meansis in its open position and thereby halt said sequential operation ofsaid camera; and sixth switch means in parallel with said first switchmeans and normally in open circuit position, said sixth switch meansbeing effective while in its circuit close position to activate saidfirst motor and said sequential operation of said camera.
 14. The deviceof claim 13 wherein said control housing includes film counter and filmcounteR lamp circuits in parallel with each other and in series withsaid source, said film counter and film counter lamp circuits includinga fourth pair of contacts in said third switch means in series with saidsource and said circuits, said pair of contacts being in circuit openposition while said second motor is deactivated and in circuit closedposition while said second motor is activated.